A whole food plant-based diet has attracted a lot of attention during this season of a pandemic, but what do we really know about how this way of eating can nourish our bodies when exposed to viruses?

​Although eating a WFPB diet cannot directly cure or prevent the virus, it has numerous benefits that can help your body fight against it. Here is why you should consider a whole food plant-based diet, especially during a pandemic.

While washing your hands regularly, disinfecting surfaces, maintaining social distance, and putting on a mask may help protect you against contracting the virus, consuming healthy whole plant-based food can help your body fight the virus if you are exposed to it.

More than your daily “super supplements”, phytochemicals and other protective elements found in plant foods can help strengthen your immune system. This is especially important for those individuals whose work environment is more of a risk, for example, healthcare workers.
​ Having a robust immune system can make it easier for the body to defend itself against the virus.

Excessive stress can lower the body’s ability to function and fight diseases and it’s not a doubt that the ongoing pandemic has brought a great toll on people’s lives.

​ Plant-based foods such as berries, dark chocolate, artichokes, etc. are high in antioxidants that can lower stress hormones and help improve your overall well-being.

Being overweight can cause inflammation, reduce your immune response, and throw your hormones off balance. Keeping your weight within a healthy proportion is essential in strengthening the immune system, especially during this period.

​With most people spending too much time indoors, it may increase the urge to grab a snack every now and then. But with a whole plant-based diet, you have enough servings of fiber that can help prevent overeating and keep you feeling full for longer.

Underlying health conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, or any other immune-suppressing conditions may make it difficult to defeat the virus or in another health pandemic.
​But vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in whole plant-based foods can help fight disease and improve health.

Inflammation is the root cause of most diseases. But antioxidants and phytochemicals present in plants can help neutralize toxins from environmental pollutants, viruses, and bacteria that could otherwise cause inflammation and further disease progression.

Fiber-rich foods are great in promoting a healthy gut, which can increase the absorption of the nutrients in food into the body. Research has shown that 70% of the immune system is in your gut, so having a healthy gut can help improve your immune function.

​ Fiber is also important in reducing cholesterol levels and regulating blood sugar, especially in those dealing with diabetes during this period. Pandemics can be quite uncertain and unpredictable, but having a healthy body and a strong immune system can give you an edge over many health conditions.